Summer Internship: Day 27

Another new day meaning working on another new project!  AKA the maxi dress I am creating to specially fit myself...YAY!  So a couple days ago I had posted sketches that I was brainstorming after buying my materials.  I liked both but when discussing with Christopher the options, I decided to combine my ideas.  The maxi would be scoop neck, sleeve above elbow, and incorporate a sash.  I found the most gorgeous material today for the sash to complement the black dress.  It has ivory, tan and black colors intertwined in kind of a royal floral print!  More pictures of that to come of course!  This is a very general idea of what I have so when you guys visually see the results, it will all make sense!

I started out this new project by taking my pattern from last week's dress and transforming it, or in other words making a new pattern.

The dress pattern from last week is laid out at the top, and where the ruler is laying is how far I need to extend the dress.  However, rather than making it hug the body all of the way down, it is going to actually hang from the hip and meet the bottom.  This will create flow and volume when I make movement in it.

I finish making my pattern.  The last step was to adjust my neckline from being boat neck to scoop neck (Notice the changes below).  

I then cut and laid out the 57 inch long piece onto my black material.

I usually like to trace around the pattern with a white pencil before cutting to make sure everything is in place before cutting.  You'll notice that only half of the dress is seen and that is because it is being cut on the center fold; done with both front and back pieces.  

When the pieces are cut and ready to go, it is time to sew!  I had to first take the shoulder pieces and sew the front and back pieces together so they look like...

The sides I want showing on the front are currently on the inside.  I mark the letter "B" for back piece on the "wrong" side of the fabric and do the same with the other pieces to keep things consistent and clean.

To finish off the neck piece there is a small insert that goes right in the inside and anchors at the sleeve.

This is sewn and then ironed to prepare the insertion of sleeves.  Sleeves I find to be the most challenging simply because you are sewing on a curvature.  

Unfortunately, no photos of that process!  I do promise it looks like a sleeve:)  I now have the side seams pinned and ready to sew tomorrow!  I will have a new dress to show and I will compare that with the updated sketch!